Recycling is one of the most important aspects of the waste management workflow, and helps healthcare practices look after the wider environment.
Segregating recyclable items can substantially reduce the volume of general clinical waste produced by a practice. Depending on the actions taken, this may also reduce disposal costs if specialist services are needed less frequently.
It’s important to understand the rules that apply to recycling in a healthcare practice, and to recycle where possible.
Simpler Recycling rules and dentistry
The latest change to recycling rules in England is the implementation of the Simpler Recycling guidance. This now affects all businesses with more than 10 full-time equivalent employees, and those with fewer can expect the same rules to be implemented on 31 March 2027.
Every day waste should now be separated into four containers:
- Residual (non-recyclable) waste
- Food waste
- Paper and card
- All other dry recyclable materials (plastic, metal and glass)
Healthcare practices must separate this municipal waste at the source, regardless of whether it is created by their in-house team or by their patients. The guidance aims to create a universal standard for recycling which better protects the environment.
To meet these needs, place suitable waste containers at relevant points throughout the practice, including in patient waiting rooms, staff rooms and clinical areas.
What happens to contaminated recyclable waste?
Some of the items used in the practice will already be suitable for recycling. However, items contaminated during clinical care will need to be disposed of through alternative, safer workflows. These are laid out in various pieces of legislation, most notably Health Technical Memorandum 07-01 (HTM 07-01).
HTM 07-01 is a key piece of guidance for all healthcare waste. Its focus is, again, for environmental benefit. Its design ensures NHS England is best suited to achieve its Net Zero targets. To do this, waste that is segregated at the source can be sent to different disposal sites to ensure the most positive environmental outcomes.
If an item is contaminated and deemed to present an infection hazard, it may be placed in the orange waste stream, where it could undergo alternative treatment at a suitable facility. This would be preferred over incineration, which should be avoided where possible.
Suitable containers
Waste containers throughout the practice should be placed at accessible locations, ideally near the point of use, and clearly labelled.
For recycling initiatives, this includes clear marking for residual, food, paper, card, and other dry recyclable waste, respectively. A white or clear bag for recyclable waste and black bags for the other municipal waste items. Initial Medical provides a full range of simpler waste disposal options for glass, dry mixed recycling, paper and even general waste, supporting correct waste segregation throughout your practice.
When handling all other clinical waste items, containers must be used in line with the colour code. Find free-to-download colour code posters here, for clear information at a glance.
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